Archaeologists have discovered two Roman pottery kilns in the Burg district of Hannersdorf, revealing a large-scale ancient trade network [1, 2].
The find suggests that the region served as a significant production center for utility pottery, challenging previous assumptions about the scale of local Roman markets. This discovery provides new insight into the economic infrastructure and distribution systems of the Roman Empire's frontier regions.
Basema Hamarneh of the University of Vienna led the team of archaeologists during the excavation [1, 2]. The project began after the first ceramic finds were discovered during construction work in the Burg district a few years ago [2]. Recent geomagnetic surveys and excavations in July 2026 have since uncovered the kiln structures.
The site is described as an unprecedented discovery of a local production center for utility pottery [1]. While two kilns have been unearthed, researchers believe the site is much larger than currently mapped. Hamarneh said, "Another 100 kilns are thought to remain buried" [1].
This scale of production indicates that the workshop did not merely serve a local village; it likely supplied a vast network of consumers across the region. The presence of such a concentrated industrial area suggests a highly organized system of labor, and resource management [1, 2].
Researchers continue to analyze the site to determine the exact volume of pottery produced and the specific destinations of the trade goods. The ongoing work aims to map the full extent of the workshop to understand how these utility items moved through the Roman economy [1].
“Another 100 kilns are thought to remain buried”
The discovery of a potential 100-kiln complex transforms the understanding of Roman provincial economics in this region. Rather than relying on imports from central Roman hubs, the evidence suggests a sophisticated, decentralized industrial base capable of mass-producing utility goods for wide-scale distribution.
